The kārearea is a courageous bird. One time, in Aoraki/Mt Cook, a falcon defended itself against an Iroquois helicopter that got too close to its nest.

The helicopter was training with the Search and Rescue team and had to move, as it didn’t want to get the falcon caught in its rotor blades. Kārearea 1, Helicopter 0. That was one brave bird!

Having worked for the Department of Conservation (DOC) in Aoraki/Mt Cook, I knew what to expect when preparing to take photos of kārearea.

Karearea. Photo: Peter Langlands

As Murphy’s Law would have it, I was dressed for the office that day—with skirt, stockings and town boots—not very practical. So I raided my fire bag, and with helmet and fire boots for the terrain, I was ready to be dive bombed!

The kārearea speeds towards me

What I wasn’t ready for is the speed of the falcon. They are thought to get up to 200 kilometre per hour!

The falcon flew straight at me, but they were, in this case, just whizzing past to scare me, rather than striking. I need a better, and faster camera!

The sheer speed made the perfect falcon shot elusive, and I decided it is probably best left to the professionals!

Falcon pair defending their nest on Craters mountain bike track

It is exciting to be near such a rare and strong bird of prey, but I tried to be as quick as possible so I didn’t stress the parents out too much. Apologies for the amateur photos! If you are a kārearea fan and want to see some more professional photographs check out the page on the New Zealand Birds Online website.

Whirinaki is packed with amazing tall trees, fast flowing rivers, and is home to an array of native species including a variety of magnificent native podocarps.

The park is about 100 km south east of Rotorua on State Highway 38. It is within a two hour drive of Rotorua, Taupo and Whakatane. Its beauty can be enjoyed through a comprehensive network of walks, tracks and huts.

This photo, of trampers crossing a stream at Whirinaki, was taken by Stefan Marks.

Note: Winners of the New Zealand’s Wild Places giveaway were picked at random.

Summer and her dad conquered the whole track in some challenging weather. Her mum, Mel, plus younger sisters, 9-year-old Poppy and 6-year-old Bella, met up with them at Luxmore Hut and Moturau Huts during their adventure.

Summer writes:

Let me tell you about my experiences on the ridges and valleys of the Kepler Track.

Summer high up on the Kepler Track

The first day was so much up hill — it just kept going up, up, up. About three quarters of the way up there were limestone boulders. They were so high and huge that it made me feel very small.

Walking, up, up and up!

The bearded forest (that’s what we called it) was amazing— there were drips of moss hanging off the trees that looked like a beards.

When we finally got to Luxmore Hut we were exhausted, but we still had enough energy to go for a 10 minute walk to the Luxmore Caves. They are amazing! Then I found out that food is really, really good when you are cold and hungry.

Family photo on the Kepler Track

I think the second day was the best. It was first up hill then in the alpine and ridges of the mountains. I loved the part when you are on the top lookout, when you can see everything below you. When there is an hour and a half to go it is all down, down, down. There are 97 switch backs and 24 stoat traps to count along the way. Finally there was Iris Burn Hut. There is a river just by the hut that you can go swimming in, it is quite cold though. As well as the river there is an amazing waterfall that’s 20 minutes away from the hut.

Along a ridge on the Kepler Track

Thankfully, the third day is all flat. There were these gorgeous purple mushrooms along the way. At Moturau hut there is a lake that is just warm enough to swim in and cool down your feet.

A misty valley

I loved all my experiences on the great four day walk known as the Kepler Track. It was awesome to do with my family.

Eight DOC staff are currently in Australia helping with the bush fires. You can read updates from John Barnes, Manager Rural Fire in Christchurch, below.

The DOC firefighting crew with a couple of Tasmanian mates that have been working with them

Thursday 10 January

Just to let you know we all arrived safely in Hobart at 2130 hours last night. We were met by Tony Blanks from Tasmania Forestry who has worked with many of us in the past. Tony was meant to have retired over New Year but has remained on in the mean time to help out with the fires.

Our two flights over from New Zealand were very interesting. The crews and passengers picked up very quickly that we were heading over to help the Tasmanians. On both planes we received loud cheers and clapping from the captain, crew and passengers.

We are heading to the Forestry offices this morning for a briefing with Tony. At this stage it looks like the two New Zealand crews may be working in different areas. I will report back on that later.

Tony was saying there are no rentals available in Tasmania as the fire cut the main highway and cars were left abandoned and a lot of tourists were taken back to their ship by another means. We are getting a number of retired 4×4 for transport; some may be missing a few things but are road worthy.

Clinton Lyall hard at it with a McLeod Tool

Friday 11 January

The two New Zealand Response Teams from Northland (made of DOC staff) and Nelson (two out of six are DOC staff) have been deployed to two separate fires and will be starting their first day this Friday. The team from Nelson including Dave Newton (Crew Leader) and fire-fighters Aston Oliver, Stuart Saunders, Stephen Wilkins, Matthew Page and William Franklin are deployed to the ongoing fire at Lake Repulse approx 1.5 hrs North West of Hobart. This fire is a threat to the National Park at Mt Field and has burnt through approx 11,000 ha. The crew will be working with chainsaws, handtools and pumps and hoses in very steep rocky and broken country where machinery can’t access. They are staying at a homestead.

Matiu Mataira taking a break

The Northland Team of Glen Coulston (Crew Leader) and fire fighters Clinton Lyall, Matiu Mataira, Paul Cornille, Clea Gardner and James McLaughlin have been deployed to the Montumoa Fire in the North West. This is an ongoing fire that has burnt through approx 3000 ha. They are presently staying in motels in the NW at Burnie. They will be deployed to the fire early Friday.The teams have been given the name of unusual name of RATS–(Response Attack Teams) by some of the Tasmanian fire fighting personnel.

Sunday 13 January

I’m presently up in Burnie (excuse the pun) in the north of Tasmania with the Northland Rapid Attack Team (RATS) with Glen Coulston (Crew Leader) and fire fighters Clinton Lyall, Matiu Mataira, Paul Cornille, Clea Gardner and James McLaughlin. We are staying at the Seabrook Hotel in units close to the beach.

A friendly frog

One or two of the crew have been taking a dip in the sea each morning – the sea temp is apparently very cold. The hotel staff have really gone out of their way to accommodate the crew and look after them. While we were having breakfast this morning there was a loud roar and the hotel shook. It has been confirmed it was an earthquake (something the locals say never happens here).

I managed to drive up some steep firebreaks and tracks to meet up with the crew yesterday at the Speedwell Fire. They were working very high up in the hills dealing to spot fires that are still burning in bush. Helicopters were also being used by the crew to drop water from Bambi Buckets on to the hotspots.

The prevention measures to take when working around snakes

The team from Nelson including Dave Newton (Crew Leader) and fire-fighters Aston Oliver, Stuart Saunders, Stephen Wilkins, Matthew Page and William Franklin have been redeployed from the Repulse fire to the Fawcet Fire located near Hobart out on the Peninsula towards Port Arthur. They will be working in very tall timber that has a heavy understory of scrub. They have managed to score an equipment trailer to carry all their gear on. They are staying at some motels near the beach front at Cambridge that has a great view and reminds them of home. I hope to catch up again with Dave and his crew in the next couple of days and get some photos to send back to New Zealand.

Regarding the arrangements over the next few days it is proposed that both crews will travel to Hobart on Tuesday and have Wednesday as a day off. Another weather event that may have an impact on the fire is expected around Thursday next week. The two teams are expected to be in Hobart during this period. It will then be easier to deploy them to any fresh outbreaks of fires.

A couple of the Northland crew taking a break

Tuesday 15 January

Both Kiwi “RATs” are working on the Repulse Fire today and after their shift they will be heading to Hobart for a break on Wednesday and possibly Thursday. They will be staying at Rydges Hotel for the next couple of nights. I met up with the Mayor of Hamilton yesterday at the staging area for the Repulse Fire. She has asked me to pass on the thanks of the local community for the assistance and hard work the Kiwi teams have been involved at.

I have arranged for their washing to be picked up tomorrow morning and returned tomorrow night; they are possibly starting to smell a bit by now. Forestry Tasmania are also arranging for a meal tomorrow night for the two crews where we can all dine together and meet up with New Zealand National Rural Fire Officer Murray Dudfield and Forest Fire Management officer with Forestry Tasmania Tony Blanks.

There has been some good feedback from the Incident Management Teams on the work carried out by the two Kiwi teams. Apparently our teams are doing the work that has been planned for them in half the time required.

There is a chance they may have to go back to work this Thursday. This is very dependent on the weather event that is forecasted to come through on Thursday. At this stage weather indicators are showing it may be not as bad as first thought however, the crews will need to be ready for any breakout of fire or any new fire incidents.

When I meet up with the two Kiwi teams tomorrow I hope to get some more photos from them to be included with the updates.

Dave Newton’s fire crew in action

Thursday 17 January

Both Kiwi “RATs” are heading back to the Repulse Fire today after a much needed break. They managed to get their washing done and to also have a look around some of the tourist sites in greater Hobart. Dave Newton receives the award for the day for leaving his camera in his overalls that went to the laundry. Not sure whether it still works but managed to get the card out of it okay.

Tony Blanks Tasmanian Forestry hosted us all for the night along with National Rural Fire Officer Murray Dudfield and a couple of retired Tasmanians who were part of the first deployment to the United States – Dick Chuter from Parks and Wildlife and Tony Davidson from Tasmanian Fire Service.

It was great to catch with some of our old mates.

Today is meant to be a lot warmer and windy but fire dangers are not expected to get to the highs of a couple of weeks ago.

Murray and I are to meet up with a TV crew from New Zealand (Campbell Live show) today. They are to do a story on the Kiwi crew’s deployment.

At this stage it is planned for the crews to return to Hobart next Tuesday for a debrief and then return home to New Zealand next Wednesday 23 Jan 2013.

Our firefighters are looking in pretty good condition after some very hard and arduous work after their first week in Tasmania. They do have a few cuts and bruises. We and the Tasmanians are very proud of them.